All-Catholic Columbus High School Reunion Luncheon Huge Success!
The All-Catholic Columbus High School Reunion Luncheon (for pre-1977 graduates) on Friday, July 17, brought together friends and former classmates to celebrate and renew lifetime friendships, view memorabilia, and enjoy (and dance to) great music “from back in the day.”
The event was held at the Valley Dale Ballroom, a place where so many countless high school dances and parties have been held over the decades.
More than 220 alumni and alumnae (along with spouses and family members) from *14 diocesan high schools -- some that closed in the 50s and 60s and other still open today -- attended. The earliest graduates in attendance were Tom Maurer (Aquinas, Class of 1946), Deloris Morock (St. Mary South, Class of 1947), and Wezi Masdea (St. Joseph Academy, Class of 1948).
“It was a true privilege for all of us to attend and graduate from one of Columbus’s 20th-century Catholic high schools,” said Lou Nobile, a 1957 graduate of Aquinas College High School and one of the committee members that helped organize the big event. The president of the Aquinas College High School Alumni Association emphasized the ”tremendous favor and sacrifices our parents made in sending us to a Catholic high school.”
He added that “being able to celebrate our shared experiences and lifelong friendships at the Valley Dale reunion is something I will always cherish. Thank you so much for all those who attended who helped make it so memorable!”
Another committee member was Katy (Ryan) Paolini, a 1961 alumna of St. Mary of the Springs Academy who serves as her alma mater’s Alumni Association president. She also expressed her gratitude to the guests and the large number of those who helped make the event special, including:
- Fellow “reunion” committee members Louis J. Fabro ’83 [St. Charles Preparatory School], Mary (Durfee) Kirwin ’61 [Holy Family], Ruthie (Holzapfel) Fortkamp ’58 [St. Mary of the Springs Academy], Kathy (Eckman) Price ’66 [Rosary], Joann Caminiti Pelino ’56 [St. Mary South] and Julie (Wynds) Grooms ’77 [St. Joseph Academy].
- Alumni and Advancement officers Terri Kernan from Bishop Watterson, Shelly (Dunkle) Skelly '85 and Heather Rush from Bishop Hartley, Nikki Cacchio from Bishop Ready, and Sarah Jacobs '17 of St. Francis DeSales who rallied their graduates to the gathering.
- Landa (Masdea) and Rick Brunetto, our hosts and the owners of the Valley Dale Ballroom, for their hospitality!
- T.J. Susi and Berwick Manor who catered the delicious luncheon.
- The young men and women from St. Charles Preparatory School and Bishop Hartley who assisted in so many ways!
Should we throw this party again next summer?
*The former Holy Family (1924-1961), St. Mary of the Springs (1868-1966), St. Joseph Academy (1875-1977), Aquinas College High School (1905-1965), St. Mary South (1914-1968), Rosary (1924-1966), Sacred Heart (1908-1966), Our Lady of Victory (1931-1963), and Father Wehrle Memorial (1996-1991) high schools and current Central Catholic high schools St. Charles Preparatory School (1923- ), Bishop Watterson (1954- ), Bishop Hartley (1957- ), St. Francis DeSales (1960- ), and Bishop Ready (1961- ).
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St. Charles Preparatory School will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or ethnic origin in the hiring of its certified or non-certified personnel.
St. Charles Preparatory School will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or ethnic origin in the hiring of its certified or non-certified personnel.
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